STATE COLLEGE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eclipse Resources Corporation (NYSE:ECR) (the “Company” or “Eclipse Resources”) today announced two organizational changes to the senior management team which it has implemented as part of its plan to accelerate its growth. These changes will help Eclipse Resources to continue to deliver top-tier performance and heightened efficiencies across the organization, while allowing the Company to add additional emphasis on expanding its asset base.

These organizational changes have taken effect as of January 1, 2017 and as part of these changes the following senior management team members have assumed new responsibilities:

• Tom Liberatore, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has assumed the new role as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Geosciences. In his new role , Mr. Liberatore will be spearheading the Company’s business development, including acquisition and divestiture efforts, as the Company looks to capitalize on opportunities during the cyclical downturn in the energy sector, as well as continuing to overseeing the Company’s reservoir engineering, geology and petro physical departments.
• Oleg Tolmachev, Senior Vice President of Drilling and Completions has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Tolmachev has assumed the full time responsibility over the Company’s operations of the Utica and Marcellus shale properties while maintaining continued oversight of the Company’s drilling and completion operations.

In addition, the Company has recently turned to sales all five wells on the Company’s “Holiday” pad, located on the Company’s Utica Shale dry gas window acreage in eastern Monroe County, Ohio. These wells are the first Utica Shale dry gas wells to utilize the Company’s “Gen-3” completion design which has shown very promising results in all wells Eclipse has completed to date using this new design.

Commenting on the management changes and operational activity, Benjamin W. Hulburt, Eclipse Resources Chairman, President and CEO, said the following, “As we move into the coming year, we are planning to accelerate our growth, both through the drill bit and through accretive acquisition opportunities as they arise. Eclipse Resources has demonstrated an industry leading operational proficiency in the Utica Shale, setting records on lateral lengths, well costs, completion designs and efficiency. The organizational changes we have made will not disrupt that capability which we plan to continue to demonstrate this year with some exciting new operational milestones we plan to undertake in our drilling program. With these management changes, the Company has placed an increased emphasis on its desire to grow both through the drill bit and through accretive acquisitions opportunities.

“The Company’s Holiday pad, which contains 5 gross (5 net) wells with an average lateral length of approximately 10,700 feet, has recently turned to sales using the Company’s pressure management production method at approximately 20 MMcf per day per well with starting pressures of approximately 7,500 pounds. These wells are the first dry gas wells in the Company’s portfolio to utilize the Gen-3 completion design and were completed with average stage spacing of 180 feet and proppant loading ranging from 2,600 to 3,000 pounds per foot. Due to our operational efficiency, we estimate we drilled and completed these wells at an average total well cost of approximately $1019 per lateral foot which is in line with our 'type well' cost estimates that assume 50% less proppant. Although still very early in the life of these exciting wells, they appear to be exhibiting the same positive results we’ve seen in the Gen-3 wells we’ve completed in the condensate window of our acreage.”

About Eclipse Resources

Eclipse Resources is an independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties in the Appalachian Basin, including the Utica and Marcellus Shales. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.eclipseresources.com.